"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
12-24-2019, 05:22 AM (This post was last modified: 12-24-2019, 05:22 AM by Aten.)
The one thing Aten hated, despised even, about kingdom politics were the questionable decisions leaders could make. No doubt he would've had to make some himself if he had the current chance right now, but he would be so lucky. Every decision he'd made in the past was for his family, for his loved ones, and to protect his home. But was that really the only thing he considered?
Would he allow his love to cloud his judgment? This was one of the questions he needed to face and answer before he entertained the prospective of one day again being a ruler. And perhaps this next journey of his would help to open his heart, his mind, up to possibilities. Reaching out to others he had not met before, getting to know them, would force him to acknowledge what lay beyond the bubble he'd placed his family and loved ones in, force him to realize that decisions he may make as a ruler wouldn't affect just them.
That, and a visit here to Nerine since the mess that had been created was long overdue. Pushing the negative thoughts of Castile and Lepis from his mind, and instead only wishing to see his friends, to catch up on good terms and learn how they were faring.
He also felt he only really knew two horses here; Heartfire, the leader, an old friend of his, and Brine, the mare who's filly he was now watching over in Taiga. Perhaps if he ran into her here, he would inform her that her filly had settled in well, and of course extend the invitation again for her to come and visit Ruth and see for herself.
Upon his arrival at Nerine's border with Taiga, the stallion looked around to see if any horses were out here watching over the line. He didn't see anyone, and would have called out if he was a complete stranger. There was already a familiar face here and his scent was prevalent enough from his last trips to Nerine that he wasn't necessarily a stranger in those senses; he only would be to those who hadn't physically seen him before. He still waited a few moments, respectfully, before crossing the border, his pace calm as he headed for Nerine's heartland to see if he could see Heartfire and Brine along with some new faces he would hopefully be lucky enough to call his friends.
OOC: Open to any and everyone who calls Nerine their home. Aten wanted to swing by and say 'hi' to whoever would like to come and meet him along with those he already knows.
the secret of walking on water is knowing where the rocks lie
Salty winds whip up her mane as she moves towards the border; her mane no longer look unkempt but rather like she doesn’t bother with straightening them in the fall season, knowing they will get tangled anyway. Instead, she looks a lot better than when she arrived back home a year ago; a little more prepped for winter season than she was before. Perhaps next spring Neverwhere will stop calling her a bag of bones - she can see the mare’s eyes judging her when she thinks Eurwen isn’t looking.
Halfway, she spots a male in the distance. For a moment, she stares at his movements, just walking towards the heart of the kingdom - but then she picks up the pace and when she nears him, he is familiar indeed. ”Aten!” she calls out to him in greeting, trotting to near him and turning to walk along with him. ”How’s Ruthless doing?” she asks him.
She’s probably safe and sound, she thinks, but she would not forgive herself if she didn’t ask and would run into Brine later, only to tell her that she met Aten and didn’t ask about her daughter. Besides, it seems like a safe opening for a conversation.
A familiar spotted mare was the first one to greet him upon his arrival, and Aten's lips curled into a smile as Eurwen approached. Unlike Neverwhere, Aten thought Eurwen was a pleasant and attractive sight, moreso now that her mane was also starting to grow out from the looks of it. It wouldn't be as long and silky as Aten's, but the stallion's own was now slightly ruined near his withers. A patch was missing from when he got it tangled in some branches back home. It did little to ruin it's overall appearance though.
Eurwen galloped up to his side and settled in to walk next to him, the first question out of her mouth being how Ruthless was doing. Understandable, since Eurwen had been one of those who escorted Brine back here to Nerine. The stallion's smile turned soft.
"She is doing well. Kalil has been kind enough to show her around the kingdom, and she has stayed with us on some nights. She is not being forced to be by our sides; she is old enough to take care of herself. She knows she is welcome with us though, and I did tell her I would bring her here to Nerine if ever she wished to do so."
He turned to asking his own question, "And how are Brine and the others here? I have heard little of Heartfire since the mess with Loess and Taiga. How have you yourself been as well?"
the secret of walking on water is knowing where the rocks lie
The knabstrup hybrid can only hope to be attractive - in the literal sense of the word. She wants Nerine active and busy with life again; if it is longing for past times or simply wanting to restore the kingdom in the north because it needs perspective and a future again, remains a question unasked. She only knows she desires it to be less empty.
Aten’s visit then, surely brightens her day. Her opening question is met with an open answer, and the young mare, although she never was a mother to anyone, nods gravely. ”It’s good that she finds security with you and still can go her own way. Though, for Brine’s sake I hope she will visit soon. I don’t know if the separation was a good thing for her. She’s… she retreats, more often than not. Though she can be pleasant company if she feels secure.” Can be, because she usually does not feel secure around most. Nevertheless, one on one Eurwen finds she is a nice mare to be around, even with her face showing her all sorts of emotions like a mirror. Brine is a refreshing break from Neverwhere, that’s for sure.
Nevertheless, Wen does not feel like gossiping, eagerly accepting Aten’s return questions. ”I’ve been restoring for a year. I can make the trip to the Field more easily again, so I will do it more often.” she informs him - letting him know she will not sit idly by and watch Nerine become, or stay, the silent-like land it seems to be in the moment. There are wanderers in the salt-shored kingdom, but they seem to hide beneath the grey rocks, unwilling to challenge the world, in a way.
”Heartfire left the kingdom to Neverwhere.” she tells Aten; watching his facial expression sideways. ”In a rather unusual way. Seems like she was in a hurry, from the way Neverwhere talks about it.” Or doesn’t, really. So Eurwen deduces what needs to be done to keep the kingdom alive, and sets to it without complaint. Neverwhere still has to adjust to her title, but Eurwen, having been trained for a year, at least remembers where to start. The silver dapple mare will certainly pick it up soon, she thinks.
After all, being present is the key, and the way how, doesn’t matter as much as the fact that one is seen.
@[Aten] here have a phone post before I sleep. Sorry for the delay!
Aten's eyes softened in pain when he heard about Brine's state since coming to Nerine without her filly by her side. As a stallion, despite helping to raise his own colt along with others his mate brought to their home, he could not imagine what it would be like for a mare to have to give up her colt or filly, willingly or not. The feelings behind it... Aten had an understanding that mares would always be closer to their little ones than stallions could ever be.
After all, how could they not? The mare did something for an entire year that the stallions weren't built for. They conceived the foal... carried it in their wombs, providing what it needed to grow... gave birth among seclusion and safety so the foal could stand for the first time... fed it the milk it needed to help it's body become much stronger...
It was one of the many ways Aten held respect for mares, whether he liked them as a friend, or an ally, or disliked them as an enemy. There was something to be said for the ones who carried a foal in their bellies and raised them with or without a stallion by their side.
"I would imagine it's not easy. To be truthful, it makes me wonder what could possess Brine to do what she did, even if she felt it was for Ruth's best interest. To bring herself such pain even if her filly is happy..." Aten could somewhat imagine at least the why Brine had done what she did; in a twisted fashion, according to his dam, his sire had done something similar long ago. It had brought his dam a pain similar to what Brine may have been going through.
Brine wasn't a sore subject for Aten or Eurwen, as they both knew there was only one way to ease the tension. And that would require Ruth making the journey here to see her dam.
Aten would speak to her about that when he returned. For the time being, on this trip, he had different matters to attend. Perhaps one would be speaking to Brine too, if he spotted her, but that was not a priority.
Eurwen first talks of her own accomplishments, of which Aten is pleased to hear about. She states she will be making more frequent trips to the Field, to brighten up Nerine with fresh faces much like how Aten had been attempting to do so during his first year back in Taiga. He still continued that duty to this day, but there was less pressure now that there were new faces.
"Nerine is lucky to have you then. I am sure you are doing her proud by being one to venture out and offer it as a home to those in search of one," he stated with a genuine, gentle smile.
And then, she moved on to tell Aten something that shocked him. Heartfire... a mare he considered his friend...
What could have possibly possessed her to do such a thing? Not really knowing what Neverwhere was like, he didn't have much to say about her just yet. But he soon would, for his next question to follow was:
"Eurwen, while I am here, I would like to meet Neverwhere if we can locate her. I have yet to meet her and would appreciate the chance to speak with her.
"Though, that is quite shocking news..." he hesitated a moment. "Was there any indication leading up to what Heartfire did?" Any indications he had missed, something he felt horrible about since he considered the mare his friend, "I do hope you understand, it is quite hard for me to believe she would do something like this without good reason."
the secret of walking on water is knowing where the rocks lie
Despite never having had a foal herself, Eurwen thinks she understands Brine. Perhaps she might have done the same, if circumstances had been similar. ”Sometimes the best we can do for our loved ones is let go - let grow.” she offers softly, into the winds of Nerine. Sometimes, if one is restricting the growth of the other, then their love must be brave enough to give the other space. Brine had seen that, even if Ruthless was now too young or too immature to understand it yet.
It is all that the rose-spotted mare contributes to the conversation; perhaps Aten will understand and perhaps he will never grasp why.
They are silent a while before the topic of Eurwen and therefore, Nerine, surfaces. She offers a shy and grim smile to the male. ”I’m making up for years lost. I’m not sure they’d called themselves lucky when I disappeared.” Then, she quickly shakes her head. She wasn’t being fair to herself, and she sighs. ”I was named heir and princess and I bolted, then collapsed. I couldn’t even find the strength to return home until Ori called me stupid in not so many words.”
The six-year-old gives Aten a sideways look. ”I should have done what you did for Taiga.” They’re both here now, but Eurwen didn’t feel like she was here rightfully - more like she had to earn her place back. Perhaps that was just a fidget of her own imagination, but it’s not something she’ll easily let go of.
Aten however, has questions she cannot fully answer. ”I’ve known Heartfire as an older cousin all my life. All I can tell you is that I can’t imagine her leaving like this without a very good reason - or lack of choice in the matter.” The spotted mare answers, her deep dark eyes considering his surprise. To Eurwen it had been a shock too, but perhaps more because her family in Nerine was getting smaller and smaller. Now, perhaps Brazen was still here? But she wasn’t even sure about that.
”Come, let’s search for Neverwhere then.”
@[Aten] do you want to tag Neverwhere here or start a 1-on-1 with her?
Aten had an idea of what Eurwen was going to say before the mare even did so. No doubt she had the same train of thought he did; that sometimes, letting a loved one go was the best for most if not all those involved, to let them grow and find their own way in life. And, in truth, that was the bravest display of love in existence.
Eurwen briefly described how she'd ended up back here, but she didn't seem proud of it. That she should've done what Aten himself had done for Taiga, but that, even being named heir, she'd bolted and stayed away until apparently Ori, in a unique way, motivated her to return home. But Aten didn't really dismiss what she had to say; the important part was she'd found a place to return to and call home, rather than do what he'd done. Aten would sooner call himself a coward than Eurwen should think of herself as one. She was also younger; Aten had stayed away for years, out of guilt, rather than fear.
Hearing of Heartfire's relation to the spotted mare as well caused sorrow to grow in Aten's heart, for the other residents, as well as Eurwen, for another member of her family was now gone. He sincerely hoped that she would receive some sort of news one day, Epona forbid it was news she didn't want to hear, even if only to provide her closure as to why the silver dappled mare had left. Eurwen suggested they go to find Neverwhere now, and Aten wholeheartedly agreed.
"Excellent idea. I appreciate your company on this search as well," he stated as they began to walk. They spent some time in silence before Aten brought the conversation back.
"What are your plans for here in Nerine now? Does Neverwhere have a plan for where she would like to take it? Alliances she would like to forge? I myself told Heartfire the last time I saw her that even with what happened with Taiga, I would help Nerine in whatever way that I could."
@[Eurwen] went ahead and tagged her here @[Neverwhere]
the secret of walking on water is knowing where the rocks lie
Searching for Neverwhere seemed to be the go-to option these days - perhaps she should talk to the mare if there was a certain place she should look first, she wonders. After all, a queen should be present, be found, and should have an opinion ready on pretty much everything. Although Eurwen could sort of guess what Never’s general opinion on everything was, nevertheless every diplomat or other visitor would still like to hear her say it.
Aten seemed to really appreciate her tagging along - perhaps he knew Neverwhere already, too - and so Wen would dutifully do so. Besides, it wasn’t so hard to make conversation with the male. He seemed well-versed and a good diplomat, heck, a good leader in general. She felt sorry for his losing that position, but then again, Pteron was her age and an adult pretty much, as well. That thought gives her the idea that perhaps she should visit Taiga again (avoiding Reia next time, if she can, for the mare was nót a diplomat in every sense of that expression) and see if she can get a sense of him… besides, it would be a good excuse to get Brine to go for a walk. See how Ruthless is doing.
Thus wondering, the knabstrup hybrid almost misses out on the fact that Aten started talking again, but he asks questions only one can answer. ”I don’t know yet.” she tells him truthfully. And perhaps Neverwhere doesn’t know yet either, the rose-marked mare thinks, but she supposes that they will find out soon.
She is not so very hard to find, with a little thought, and although she cannot say how long it is they have been searching for her, neither horse seems to be very winded or weary when they finally come upon her, drinking from a seasonal spring fed by melting snow. She has been weaving among the caves that honeycomb some of the cliffs, though she rarely goes far inside of them. They all smell empty, and she does not fear darkness, but a small voice in the back of her head warns against becoming trapped within them, nowhere to run but deeper in. Perhaps there will be others to come that will love the subterranean world that twists beneath the clifftops, but it is not this day, and she cannot imagine that it will ever be her.
When she sees the pair, she lifts her muzzle from the icy water to observe their approach. The manner between them is easy, one of familiarity, but Neverwhere herself does not know the tall stallion walking beside Eurwen. A new recruit, perhaps? But no, there is nothing new in the way they gesture to one another, and he walks like someone who has been in Nerine before, so surely this is yet another diplomatic visit. She had thought she might avoid such things among the mazes near the shoreline, but leave it to the spotted mare to find her out just the same. It occurs to her that there really is no escape, and Eurwen will doggedly remind her of her duties no matter what she might prefer.
Annoying, but that sort of determination demands respect. Begrudging respect. Which may be the only way Neverwhere is capable of giving it at all. The earth-brown mare nods curtly and steps away from the spring, careful not to muddy its water in case either Eurwen or her guest are thirsty, and she lets the silence linger a moment longer, broken only by the sound of waves crashing nearby on the grey rock and sand.
"Who have you brought today, Eurwen? Your last friend didn't care for me very much." Which was not really fair, as she had done nothing except hear them speaking her name nearby and come out from where she had been napping in the autumn sun. Oh, sure, that had been the day that Heartfire seized her mind and left her staggering and stunned from heavyhanded visions jammed hard through the channel that linked them, but that was hardly Neverwhere's fault.
Unfortunately, Eurwen did not provide an answer that Aten wanted to hear this time around; he was hoping for anything more than what she had given. He didn't need every single detail when it came to Nerine's plans, or Eurwen's own personal ones, but having at least something would help to move their conversation along. There was only so much that Aten could think of to talk about after all, without some sort of opener to help him along at least.
For the brief remaining time it was just the stallion and mare walking together in search of the Queen, Aten tried his best to make small talk, deciding to settle on Eurwen's past as a topic and get to know the spotted mare a bit better. Even with his trips to Nerine in the past, his main focus had been to meet Heartfire. He hadn't put a lot of effort into meeting other horses, and now felt pretty crummy as a result. He'd made a resolution to at least branch out to the others living here, hence the purpose of his visit. Eurwen seemed to be the only one interested in responding though, at this time anyways.
At some point, Aten's senses picked up on the presence of another, and his eyes sought out the other horse when he scented it on the breeze. Looking ahead, he spotted the horse, later to be identified as a mare when she spoke to them as Aten and Eurwen got closer.
The mare questioned Eurwen about the guest she had brought along, and Aten dipped his head in greeting to the silver dappled mare. Making the assumption that this was who they had been seeking out, he was pleased that she seemed to be in at least a civil mood and willing to converse.
Staying at his place near Eurwen rather than stepping up and intruding Neverwhere's personal space, Aten offered a friendly greeting, "Hello. My name is Aten, and I am honored to have had the chance to meet you today. Am I correct in assuming that you are Neverwhere? Eurwen has spoken well of you, and though I was surprised to hear you are now the leader, my purpose of coming to Nerine this time around was to check things over as well as speak with you now, since the old leader is gone."
